Abstract
Purpose: To examine current bereavement practices in critical care through a scoping review and identify evidence-based strategies to support families and nursing staff during and after end-of-life events. This review highlights gaps, facilitators, and opportunities for nurse-led approaches to strengthen compassionate, consistent bereavement care.
Background: In ICUs, bereavement extends beyond families to nurses who frequently experience emotional and moral distress after patient death. Despite evidence supporting structured bereavement interventions, practices remain inconsistent, culturally variable, and often lacking clear guidance for frontline nurses. A synthesis of current literature is needed to inform standardized, grief-informed practices that benefit both families and staff.
Methods: A PRISMA-ScR–guided scoping review was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO to map existing bereavement practices in adult critical care settings. Eligible literature included interventions, frameworks, and staff- or family-focused bereavement supports. Data were charted for intervention type, target population, clinical outcomes, staff experiences, and implementation barriers. Findings were reviewed with nursing and interprofessional stakeholders to contextualize applicability.
Findings: The review revealed wide variation in bereavement interventions, including memory-making activities, follow-up phone calls, family information booklets, spiritual care referrals, and structured debriefings for staff. Effective practices emphasized cultural sensitivity, early communication, and nurse-led follow-up. Key barriers included limited training, variable unit culture, emotional burden on nurses, and the absence of organizational policies. Staff consistently reported a need for standardized tools and clearer guidance to provide confident, compassionate bereavement support.
Implications for Nursing: This scoping review underscores the central role of nurses in guiding families through end-of-life experiences and highlights the importance of organizational structures that support nurse well-being. Evidence-informed bereavement resources—such as standardized communication guides, family support materials, and staff debriefing frameworks—can strengthen ICU culture, enhance patient- and family-centered care, and advance healthy work environment standards.
Notes
Acknowledgements:
Henry Ford Health ICU nurses for their participation and feedback
Henry Ford Health Research Council for project support
Henry Ford Health leadership for enabling implementation
References:
Glasper, A., & Richardson, A. (2019). Bereavement care in intensive care units: A review of the literature. Nursing in Critical Care, 24(4), 228–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12404
Kentish-Barnes, N., Seaman, J. B., & Azoulay, É. (2020). Loss, grief and growth: The impact of ICU work on healthcare professionals. Intensive Care Medicine, 46(4), 717–719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-020-05931-1
McAdam, J. L., & Erikson, A. (2021). Bereavement interventions for families in the ICU: A systematic review. Heart & Lung, 50(2), 232–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.12.003
Wiegand, D. L., & Norton, S. A. (2020). End-of-life care in the ICU: Supporting families and staff. Critical Care Nurse, 40(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2020401
Meo, N., McBrien, K., & Cabrera, L. (2021). Supporting clinicians after patient death: A scoping review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 62(4), e1–e14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.136
Kentish-Barnes, N., Chaize, M., & Azoulay, É. (2019). The lived experience of ICU bereavement for families and clinicians. Annals of Intensive Care, 9(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-019-0500-7
Sigma Membership
Tau Upsilon
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Academic-Clinical Partnership, End-of-Life, Stress and Coping, Terminal Care, Bereavement, Evaluation of Medical Care, Grief, Social Support, Spiritual Care (Medical Care), Family Support, Intensive Care Units
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Donna and Curnell, Morgan, "Creating Space for Grief: A Bereavement Support Initiative in Critical Care" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 130.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/130
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-30
Creating Space for Grief: A Bereavement Support Initiative in Critical Care
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: To examine current bereavement practices in critical care through a scoping review and identify evidence-based strategies to support families and nursing staff during and after end-of-life events. This review highlights gaps, facilitators, and opportunities for nurse-led approaches to strengthen compassionate, consistent bereavement care.
Background: In ICUs, bereavement extends beyond families to nurses who frequently experience emotional and moral distress after patient death. Despite evidence supporting structured bereavement interventions, practices remain inconsistent, culturally variable, and often lacking clear guidance for frontline nurses. A synthesis of current literature is needed to inform standardized, grief-informed practices that benefit both families and staff.
Methods: A PRISMA-ScR–guided scoping review was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO to map existing bereavement practices in adult critical care settings. Eligible literature included interventions, frameworks, and staff- or family-focused bereavement supports. Data were charted for intervention type, target population, clinical outcomes, staff experiences, and implementation barriers. Findings were reviewed with nursing and interprofessional stakeholders to contextualize applicability.
Findings: The review revealed wide variation in bereavement interventions, including memory-making activities, follow-up phone calls, family information booklets, spiritual care referrals, and structured debriefings for staff. Effective practices emphasized cultural sensitivity, early communication, and nurse-led follow-up. Key barriers included limited training, variable unit culture, emotional burden on nurses, and the absence of organizational policies. Staff consistently reported a need for standardized tools and clearer guidance to provide confident, compassionate bereavement support.
Implications for Nursing: This scoping review underscores the central role of nurses in guiding families through end-of-life experiences and highlights the importance of organizational structures that support nurse well-being. Evidence-informed bereavement resources—such as standardized communication guides, family support materials, and staff debriefing frameworks—can strengthen ICU culture, enhance patient- and family-centered care, and advance healthy work environment standards.
Description
A scoping review of bereavement practices in critical care identifies key gaps, effective interventions, and the central role of nurses in supporting families and staff during end-of-life care. Findings provide a foundation for developing scalable, nurse-led bereavement initiatives and highlight the need for practice models that integrate grief-informed care across critical care settings.